Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFHED3’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFHED3’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences; spider-type inflorescences with yellow green-colored ray florets that become red purple in color with development giving a bi-colored appearance; and relative resistance to  Fusarium oxysporum  f. sp.  chrysanthemi  and  Puccinia horiana  strain PhNL1.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFHED3’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Filed: Mar. 20, 2019

Ser. No. 62/919,611

Inventor/Applicant hereby claim the benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

A Japanese Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B. V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Aug. 9, 2018, application number 33305. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFHED3’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plants with numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination in February, 2014 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB 31733 as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB 38838 as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in October, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since October, 2014 in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFHED3’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFHED3’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences.     -   6. Spider-type inflorescences with yellow green-colored ray         florets that become red purple in color with development giving         a bi-colored appearance.     -   7. Relatively resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.         chrysanthemi and Puccinia horiana strain PhNL1.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parent selection in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are red purple and yellow green bi-colored whereas ray florets of plants of the female parent selection are yellow in color. In addition, inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are not as dense as inflorescences of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parent selection in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are red purple yellow green bi-colored whereas ray florets of plants of the male parent selection are white in color. In addition, ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are quilled in shape whereas ray florets of plants of the male parent selection are ligulate in shape.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Anastasia Pink’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,294. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘Anastasia Pink’ in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are darker in color than ray florets of plants of ‘Anastasia Pink’. In addition, inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are smaller than inflorescences of plants of ‘Anastasia Pink’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFHED3’ grown as a spray-type cut flower.

The photograph on the second sheen (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of lower (top of the photographic sheet) and upper (bottom of the photographic sheet) surfaces of typical inflorescences (left) and, leaves (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 2° C. to 20° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem spray-type plants and were nine weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFHED3’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB             31733, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB             38838, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve             days at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two             weeks at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous spider-type cut flower             that is typically grown as a single stem spray-type; upright             plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 76.3             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 80.1 cm.         -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 15.6 cm.         -   Flowering stem length.—About 72.8 cm.         -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.6 cm.         -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 144A.         -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 146B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 13.1 cm. Width: About 8.1 cm. Shape: Ovate to oblong.             Apex: Short apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately             lobed, coarsely serrate; sinuses convergent and medium in             depth. Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately             pubescent, not rugose; moderately velvety; very slightly             glossy to matte. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Moderately pubescent, prominent venation; slightly velvety;             matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color:             Developing leaves, upper surface: Close NN137A. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully developed             leaves, upper surface: Close to between NN137A and 147A;             venation, close to 147C. Fully developed leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146C. Petioles:             Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm by 3 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color,             upper surface: Close to 148A; edges, close to NN137A. Color,             lower surface: Close to 146C. Stipules: Quantity and             appearance: Two leafy stipules, opposite, at the petiole             attachment to the stem. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About             9 mm. Shape: Flabellate. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Moderately pubescent, not rugose; moderately velvety; very             slightly glossy to matte. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Moderately pubescent, prominent venation; matte. Color,             upper surface: Close to between NN137A and 147A. Color,             lower surface: Close to 147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Spider-type inflorescence form with             quilled-shaped ray florets and if present, tubular disc             florets (disc florets are inconspicuous); inflorescences             borne perpendicular to peduncles and face mostly upright to             slightly outwardly; ray and disc florets develop acropetally             on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             49 days later when grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; in             an interior environment, inflorescences and foliage will             maintain good color and substance for about two weeks;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit; when             grown as a spray-type, about 17 inflorescences develop per             flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7.2 cm. Depth (height):             About 3.7 cm. Disc diameter: If present, about 1 mm to 2 mm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145A to 145B.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About             1.5 cm. Shape: Roughly globular. Texture and luster:             Distally, smooth and glabrous; proximally, slightly to             moderately pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 137C;             immature ray florets, close to N77B with apices, close to             150D.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 130 arranged in             about five whorls. Length: About 3.5 cm; varying between 2.1             cm and 4.3 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Quilled. Apex:             Praemorse. Base: Fused. Aspect: Initially upright to about             60° from vertical. Texture and luster, inner surface:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; matte. Texture and             luster, outer surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety;             slightly glossy. Color: When opening, inner surface: Close             to 75B; distally, close to 145C to 145D and proximally,             close to 145B to 145C. When opening, outer surface: Close to             75A; distally, close to 145C to 145D and proximally, close             to 145B to 145C. Fully opened, inner surface: Close to 75B             and 75A; distally, close to between 145D to 150D and             proximally, close to 145B; venation, similar to lamina             colors; color does not change with development. Fully             opened, inner surface: Close to NN74C to NN74D; distally,             close to 150D and proximally, close to 145A to 145B;             venation, similar to lamina colors; color does not change             with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: If present, one to             four massed at the center of the receptacle; disc florets             inconspicuous. Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Shape: Lower 77.5% fused into a tube; upper 22.5% free.             Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin, distally: Entire. Texture and             luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color, when opening and fully opened, inner and outer             surfaces: Distally, close to 154B and proximally, close to             145B to 145C.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 30             arranged in three whorls. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About             3 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Moderately pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to             143B; margins, translucent and close to 157A and 200B.             Color, lower surface: Close to 137B; margins, translucent             and close to 157A and 200B.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 4.1 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2 mm. Length, third             peduncle: About 4.3 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About             2 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Mostly             upright. Aspect, third peduncle: About 40° from the             flowering stem axis. Texture and luster: Moderately             pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 143A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:             About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 150D. Anther size:             About 0.5 mm by 3 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther             color: Close to 13A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 14B. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc             florets. Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About             2 mm. Style length: About 1.75 mm. Style color: Close to             145C. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft,             decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 153D. Ovary color: Close             to 145D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be relatively resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f.     sp. chrysanthemi. To date, plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to     plants grown under commercial conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFHED3’ as illustrated and described. 